State comes up with helpline for IT-enabled services

Kolkata: The state Information Technology and Electronics (IT&E) department has come up with a dedicated round-the-clock COVID-19 helpline for providing IT-enabled services to different companies.

Some companies have already sought assistance from the IT department for transportation of equipment to arrange work from home for their employees and the latter has provided assistance in this matter.

"Companies may face problem in this unprecedented situation as work from home for a section of employees may be adopted even after the lockdown is lifted. The state

government will surely have some assistance plan but for this we need to have a clear understanding on what

sort of help is being sought by the companies in trouble," said Rajeev Kumar, Principal Secretary of the state IT&E department, while addressing a webinar on Current IT

Scenario organised by TiE Kolkata.

The officers of the IT department have been instructed to give a patient hearing to the companies facing problems and identify areas in which the state government can come up with

assistance.

Kumar referred to the Durga Puja spirit and culture in the city when collective thought and ideas of people converge to create such an extravaganza.

"The mantra to work in this changed scenario post COVID-19 is to exchange thoughts and ideas so that a collective thought process is in progress. We have to imbibe the spirit of helping each other to overcome the crisis

situation," Kumar added.

He reiterated that the department will not fix any norms of social distancing or social hygiene for the IT

companies in Salt Lake Sector V but will discuss with the companies on measures to

be adopted for safety and

security of the employees

even after the lockdown is lifted.